Look, nobody should be surprised he's not producing. The kid has gone from a supporting and sheltered role on a contending team to being force-fed minutes on a team that's not nearly the same caliber. He's struggling, he's also still learning. He'll figure it out eventually, I just hope the Sabres don't push him too hard, too fast.

Frankly, I'm not wishing bad for the kid. We made a hockey trade and rather than wish poorly on Hodgson we should wish well on Kassian. No reason to get a hate on for the kid going the other way, he did play well and score some big goals for us.

Island Nucklehead wrote:Look, nobody should be surprised he's not producing. The kid has gone from a supporting and sheltered role on a contending team to being force-fed minutes on a team that's not nearly the same caliber. He's struggling, he's also still learning. He'll figure it out eventually, I just hope the Sabres don't push him too hard, too fast.

Frankly, I'm not wishing bad for the kid. We made a hockey trade and rather than wish poorly on Hodgson we should wish well on Kassian. No reason to get a hate on for the kid going the other way, he did play well and score some big goals for us.

I wished him well before Dude got in bed with his dad

There is no such thing as climate change...there is no such thing as climate change...there is such thing as climate change...

Island Nucklehead wrote:Look, nobody should be surprised he's not producing. The kid has gone from a supporting and sheltered role on a contending team to being force-fed minutes on a team that's not nearly the same caliber. He's struggling, he's also still learning. He'll figure it out eventually, I just hope the Sabres don't push him too hard, too fast.

Frankly, I'm not wishing bad for the kid. We made a hockey trade and rather than wish poorly on Hodgson we should wish well on Kassian. No reason to get a hate on for the kid going the other way, he did play well and score some big goals for us.

The more simple minded fan base is surprised he's not producing.

I read Hodgson's score tied Fenwick rate since joining Buffalo is 33%. This is the advance stat that is touted as the most accurate measure of the effectiveness of a player. Fenwick is total shots directed at the opponents net (not including blocked shots) vs the same amount of shots at your own net. Scored tied is important as at that point, both teams are neither taking a more offensive or defensive posture due to someone having the lead.

That means, when Hodgson has been on the ice for Buffalo and the score is tied, there are twice as many shots going at his own net than towards the opponents net. It is a very small sample, but growing every game. 33% is brutal.

Kassian's has been 50%.

The 3rd line's (with Pahlsson) score tied fenwick has also improved since the trade.

GMMG had to move CoHo for reasons most of us still don’t know. Because Gillis felt he had to move CoHo he targeted the type of player he wanted and he felt the team needed both for this playoff run and the future. Rumor has it Burke offered Schenn for CoHo but was turned down.

Gillis wanted a young Kassian type of player. He felt we needed the extra size. He wanted it now, for this year’s post season run. Our future is now, remember? Kassian has the proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence.

So jump ahead to R1 G3!

Kassian plays 3:55! Are you shitting me? Three minutes and fifty-five seconds!!!

I hate the way AV manages his young player’s ice time. I think the only reason Gillis had to move CoHo was because of AV's horrible management of the asset. We get Kassian and, the beat rolls on. Same old same old from AV. Less than four minutes for a player that was brought in to play a physical roll is a joke. Fuckin PP is 0 for 13… put Kassian in front of the net and fire away. Do you expect Kassian to do anything with 4 mins a game? Of course he's squeezing the stick. One mistake and he's riding the pine!

Fuckin trade CoHo for a D that doesn’t dress and a young forward that plays less than four minutes a game! Get the kid some fucking experience you dolt!

I completely agree with your frustration of AV's use of his younger players. That is one area I thing GMMG and AV aren't on the same page. We hear all kinds of stuff from management about "developing from within" and "building from the draft" but with a veteran-laden team I'm just not seeing any results. I am a firm believer that the coach should dress the best players available whenever possible but I also believe in giving young players a shot.

I would LOVE to throw Kassian in front of the net on the PP and let Kesler and Hank try to set up some plays. The PP is failing right now and at 4 minutes a game Kassian would be fresh for the PP every time. Quick needs some traffic and Kassian should be hard to move. I would love to see him battle with Scuderi, Green, or Mitchell.

Long term ... Kassian needs to , and will come back in better shape next year. He is too slow right now and if he can get his fitness level up he should hopefully have a much larger role next year. Im sure Gillis has a plan for him in the offseason.

GMMG had to move CoHo for reasons most of us still don’t know. Because Gillis felt he had to move CoHo he targeted the type of player he wanted and he felt the team needed both for this playoff run and the future. Rumor has it Burke offered Schenn for CoHo but was turned down.

Gillis wanted a young Kassian type of player. He felt we needed the extra size. He wanted it now, for this year’s post season run. Our future is now, remember? Kassian has the proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence.

So jump ahead to R1 G3!

Kassian plays 3:55! Are you shitting me? Three minutes and fifty-five seconds!!!

I hate the way AV manages his young player’s ice time. I think the only reason Gillis had to move CoHo was because of AV's horrible management of the asset. We get Kassian and, the beat rolls on. Same old same old from AV. Less than four minutes for a player that was brought in to play a physical roll is a joke. Fuckin PP is 0 for 13… put Kassian in front of the net and fire away. Do you expect Kassian to do anything with 4 mins a game? Of course he's squeezing the stick. One mistake and he's riding the pine!

Fuckin trade CoHo for a D that doesn’t dress and a young forward that plays less than four minutes a game! Get the kid some fucking experience you dolt!

Fire AV Now!

OD did you miss that huge give away Kassian coughed up in his own end early in the third? There is no way Kassian gets another shift from any coach. While I didnt like the way AV handled Ballard last year (or this year,) I have to agree with him in his use of both Kassian and Co Ho. They are rookies and will cost you in tight games

I look forward to a new approach from behind the bench next season. Obviously the old one has worn off. The team has regressed, and it's time to change it up. We're full of talent, and should have even more next season when the goaltending situation is sorted out.

The thing with Mac T is that he knows the kids in Chicago and will be better suited to seeing they get playing time. With his years with the Oilers he had to handle the young kids. So I guess it depends upon whether we plan to have some of those kids in Chicago on the team next year. I fear they won't get a fair shake from AV but they just might get a chance under Mac T.